PhD Stipend – Thin-walled Parts: Linking Manufacturing Process with Components’ Dynamic Properties for Robust Design

The Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, is searching for a research engineer to join its team to work in the challenging Horizon Europe MSCA project APRIORI: Active Product-to-Process Learning fOR Improving Critical Components Performance.

APRORI is an international consortium of high-profile universities, research institutions and companies located in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Slovenia. The European manufacturing sector is experiencing and will continue to experience a transition, characterized by the exponential growth of additive manufacturing, the 4th industrial revolution(Industry 4.0). The ambition of the APRIORI training network is to fully support this evolution by training 10 doctoral candidates(DCs) and future innovators to deal with two key technical challenges within the manufacturing sector: the uncertainty induced by the production process and the increasing complexity of the manufactured goods characterized by the critical parts or components. This will be achieved by developing the skills and new technologies that will enable for the first time the development of a unique integrated product design strategy that will drastically improve the performance of critical parts or components under uncertainties.

As DC7 in the APRIORI training network, you will assess how the manufacturing-induced residual stresses, plastic strains and geometry imperfections influence vibration performance of thin-walled spatially curved panels(possibly, under heavy fluid loading), used as components of large centrifugal pumps. In an assembled structure, these components act both as resonators, which generate tonal noise at excessive levels, and as waveguides, which transmit the vibro-acoustic energy from the source(rotating fluid-loaded blades) to the outer parts of the piping system. It is anticipated that a high fidelity modelling of sheet metal forming by means of advanced numerical tools will provide the necessary information to identify the eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes of these components and to predict distribution of structural intensities at the dominant excitation frequencies. In the course of modelling, sensitivities of dynamic characteristics of panels to parameters of the manufacturing process will be assessed. The intended work will also encompass the relative uncertainty assessment of the eigenfrequencies, eigenmodes and structural intensities in view of performance of assembled large centrifugal pumps under uncertain boundary condition.

Skills/Qualifications

If you recognize yourself in the story below, then you have a profile that fits the project and the research consortium

• I have a Master degree in engineering, physics or mathematics, obtained no longer that four years ago, and performed above average in comparison with my peers
• I am proficient in written and spoken English
• I have not had residence or main activities in Denmark for more than 12 months in the last three years
• During my courses or prior professional activities, I have gathered some basic experience with the physical principles of vibro-acoustics and the related measurement and numerical modelling techniques, and/or I have a profound interest in these topics
• As a PhD student at the Department of Materials and Production of Aalborg University, I perform research in structures and scientifically sound manner. I work with sufficient degree of independence to follow my plan and achieve the goals. In frequent reporting, varying between weekly and monthly, I show the results that I have obtained and give their well-founded interpretation. I iterate on my work and my approach based on the feedback from my supervisors

You may obtain further information fromProfessor Sergey Sorokin, Department of Materials and Production, phone:+45 30353807, email: [email protected] concerning the scientific aspects of the stipend.

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Engineering and Science in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contactMs. Katrine Søndergaard, The Doctoral School at The Faculty of Engineering and Science, email: [email protected], phone:+45 9940 3374. 

For more information of The Doctoral School of Engineering and Science:www.phd.engineering.aau.dk  

The application is only to be submitted online by using the"Apply online" button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 15 December 2021 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.